A look at Syrian refugees in neighboring countries

By The Associated Press
| 6:51 a.m.April 30, 2014

In this Thursday April 17, 2014 photo, Syrian children play under the heat of the midday sun at Zaatari refugee camp, near the Syrian border in Jordan. Life in this sprawling camp, Zaatari, is only getting harder for 130,000 residents, most of them fleeing fighting in south Syria. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
The Associated Press

In this Thursday April 17, 2014 photo, Syrian children play under the heat of the midday sun at Zaatari refugee camp, near the Syrian border in Jordan. Life in this sprawling camp, Zaatari, is only getting harder for 130,000 residents, most of them fleeing fighting in south Syria. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

The massive numbers of Syrians fleeing the civil war has stretched the resources of neighboring countries and raised fears of violence spreading in the region. The U.N. estimates there are nearly 2.7 million Syrians registered in neighboring countries, with more than 67,500 more awaiting registration.

There also are hundreds of thousands who are not registered. Syria had a prewar population of 23 million.

A look at Syrian refugees in neighboring countries:

LEBANON

Lebanon is officially home to more than 1 million refugees, with many more not on the books scattered around the country in informal tent settlements, old construction sites and underground parking garages. UNHCR says Lebanon, whose population is about 4.5 million, has the highest per capita concentration of refugees recorded anywhere in the world in recent history. Despite grave risks to its own stability, Lebanon has kept its border open to the refugees. But the sheer numbers are straining health, education and housing services to the brink of collapse.

JORDAN

Jordan has nearly 600,000 registered refugees, and the numbers are growing daily. Most are in two encampments near the northern border with Syria; a third, Azraq, opened Wednesday. The largest is Zaatari camp, with a population exceeding 120,000, where refugees are under direct care of the U.N. and the Jordanian government. Azraq, which was built to host 130,000 people, will outstrip Zaatari once full.

TURKEY

Turkey has more than 722,000 registered refugees. Ankara has been funding and managing the refugees, who have been sheltered in 22 camps complete with schools, medical centers and other social facilities. While Turkey's border with Syria remains open, it is carefully managing the flow, processing the new arrivals as more facilities become available.

IRAQ

Iraq has more than 221,000 registered refugees, the majority of them ethnic Kurds from Syria who found shelter in the autonomous Kurdish region in the north. Tens of thousands live in a camp of tents and cinderblock shacks near the border, while the rest have found jobs and homes in towns. The local Iraqi Kurdish government allows them to move around freely. Some have also sought refuge in Iraq's restive western province of Anbar, but the exact number is not known. They are believed to be mostly Sunnis who dominate the revolt against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

EGYPT

Egypt is home to more than 136,000 registered refugees, although officials estimate there are hundreds of thousands who are not registered.